Spring Valley Mountain

Some mountain peaks in the South Indian state of Kerala simply outdo the others. And Kurisumala happens to be one of those. While the world knows this hill station by the name of Spring Valley Mountain, locals better recognize the moniker, ‘Kurisumala’.

The name ‘Kurisumala’ translates to ‘cross hill’ in Malayalam (as ‘kurisu’ means cross, and ‘mala’ is the local term for ‘hill’). True to its name, the top of this hillock has a simple Christian house of worship, St. Thomas Church, with a cross at its pinnacle.

Spring Valley Mountain is a favourite among hikers because of the unrivalled view of the Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary that it offers from its summit. One does not have to be a religious traveller to enjoy one’s time is Kurisumala!